Voice of the Listener & Viewer Working for Quality and DiversityBulletin in Broadcasting Autumn 2008 Issue 94 Choice in Broadcasting: VLV has a can quality be sustained? New Chairman At an Extraordinary General Meeting on October 2nd VLV’s founder, Jocelyn Hay, Wednesday, 26th November, 10.30am – 3.30pm who has chaired the organisation for the last twenty-five years, stood down and The Geological Society, Piccadilly, London W1 Richard Lindley, a former television news and current affairs journalist, was elected to succeed her. Unanimously supported by the VLV’s 25th annual autumn conference will focus on the concern of VLV Board, Richard was elected unopposed. listeners and viewers as to whether the quality of British Richard Lindley first began working in broadcasting, and especially its public service ethos, can be television in 1962, as a researcher and sustained in the light of recent events. During the past twelve producer for ABC Television’s Sunday Break, months, a succession of breaches of guidelines on managing a ‘God slot’ programme for teenagers. Then, phone-in programmes, voting contests and questions of taste and after a brief spell in local television, he joined decency on the BBC, ITV and Channel 4, have seriously undermined ITN, the national news for ITV. There he the trust that viewers and listeners previously placed in the travelled the world, reporting wars in Africa, integrity and judgement of editorial controllers. The cumulative Asia and the Middle East. Then, in1973, he effect is especially damaging, in particular for the BBC, as Ofcom moved from news to current affairs, joining will shortly conclude its Review of Public Service Broadcasting and the BBC’s flagship Panorama programme. make recommendations to the Government not only on what the Richard was 15 years with Panorama public service broadcasters should be expected to provide in future before becoming a television regulator at the but also on how they should be funded. IBA, forerunner of today’s Ofcom, in charge of BBC One, the BBC’s flagship television channel, and Radio Two, seeing that news and current affairs on ITV the BBC’s and Britain’s most popular radio channel are at the centre were accurate and impartial. of the current debate. Each will be affected by progress on switching Returning to programme making Richard the UK from analogue TV transmission to digital by 2012, and by calls was a reporter and presenter for ITV’s This from some commercial broadcasters for radio to follow soon after. Week, until Thames Television lost its licence to The programme for the conference covers all these issues and will broadcast in the first of the big changes in ITV’s provide a unique opportunity for participants to hear and question structure. the two key managers as well as two of those responsible for switch- Continued on page 2 over policy and delivery. Speakers include: 10.30am: Peter Davies, Director of Radio Policy & Broadcasting, Ofcom. A representative from Digital UK, the Company responsible for managing switch-over. 11.15am: Jay Hunt, the new Controller of BBC One. 12.30pm: an update on Ofcom’s Review of Public Service Broadcasting by VLV Board Member, Professor Ivor Gaber. 2pm: Tim Davie, Director, BBC Audio & Music John Lloyd, contributing Editor and TV critic for the Financial Times and Gillian Reynolds, Media Commentator and Radio Critic for the Daily Telegraph will chair the conference. The AGM of VLV Ltd will follow at 4pm. Inside In Memoriam From the new Chairman Book Reviews AGM Called - 26th November Responses to Consultations Letters Secretary of State Citizenship & Broadcasting Competition Silver Jubilee Celebration Media Literacy for the over 50s Diary Dates ISSN 1475-2948 In Memoriam - Lord Thomson of Monifieth KT, PC Lord Thomson of in opposition and in 1972 Edward Heath Monifieth and the appointed him European Commissioner with Voice of the Listener & Viewer late Lord Swann responsibility for regional policy. In this post he were VLV’s first set out to demonstrate how membership of the Working for Quality and Diversity in British Broadcasting two patrons. Both European Community could benefit the UK. He VLV Patrons had just left office, returned to London two years later. Lord Barnet PC JP Lord Thomson from In 1977 he was created a life peer and Archbishop Lord Eames of Armagh the chair of the appointed chairman of the Advertising Standards Sir Francis Graham-Smith FRS IBA (Independent Authority, becoming in 1978 Deputy Chairman Lord Inglewood MEP Broadcasting of the IBA. He took over the Chair from Lady Sir Charles Mackerras, KT, CBE Authority) which regulated commercial Plowden in 1980 and, during eight turbulent Dame Mary Peters DBE television and Lord Swann as chairman of the years in the post, he witnessed the launch of Lord Phillips of Sudbury OBE BBC Board of Governors. Until his death on Channel 4 and TV-AM , the clash with the Lord Puttnam of Queensgate CBE 6th October this year, Lord Thomson took a Thatcher Government over the controversial Lady Solti keen interest in all VLV’s affairs and remained Thames TV documentary Death on the Rock, and Sir John Tusa an active and staunch supporter. Just one the launch of the BSB satellite (later bought by VLV President week before his death I received a letter from Sky). A year after stepping down, he joined the Jocelyn Hay CBE him congratulating me and all in VLV for what Liberal Democrats and became their spokesman Directors had been achieved in its first 25 years, and in he Lords on foreign affairs and broadcasting. Richard Lindley (Hon. Chairman) sending good wishes on the appointment of Recognition that Lord Thomson was a man of Hugh Peltor CBE (Hon. Treas.) our new Chairman. great warmth, humanity and integrity was Robert Clark Having started as a sub editor on the Rover demonstrated in his membership of the Nolan Professor Ivor Gaber and the Dandy with D C Thomson in his home committee on standards in public life and Norman Green town of Dundee, he served with the RAF appointment as Chairman of the Political Professor Brian Groombridge throughout WWII. After demobilisation he Honours Committee. He gave unstinting support Professor Sonia Livingstone entered politics, first as Assistant Editor of the to VLV and to me personally, taking a particular Professor Máire Messenger Davies, PhD, FRSA, Scottish Labour weekly Forward and then as MP interest in the ten conferences VLV held between Laurence Pawley for Dundee East in 1952. During the Labour 1993 and 2005 on the future of public service Lewis Rudd MBE government between 1964 and 1970, he served broadcasting worldwide and in the formation of Warren Newman as Minister of State at the Foreign Office, then EURALVA, the European Alliance of Listeners’ & Company Secretary Minister for Europe and later Commonwealth Viewers’ Associations, which VLV has led. Waterlow Registrars Ltd Secretary. In Opposition after that, he was His wise advice and support will be greatly The Voice of the Listener Trust appointed Shadow Secretary for Defence. He missed and we extend our deepest sympathy to (reg charity 296207) retained his interest in international affairs and Lady Thomson and his daughters Ailsa and Caroline. VLV’s sister charity which supports enthusiasm for the European Community whilst Jocelyn Hay, President, VLV VLV’s educational work Chairman: Jocelyn Hay CBE Trustees: Michael Barton Annual General Meeting of VLV Ltd John Clark Professor Sylvia Harvey 26th November 2008 Geological Society, London W1 Lady Solti Dr Andrew Taussig The 6th AGM of Voice of the Listener & Viewer Ltd will follow the autumn conference VLV office hours: at 4pm on Wednesday, 26th November at the Geological Society, Piccadilly, London W1. 9.30am - 5.00pm Mon-Thurs Brian Groombridge and Warren Newman are standing down as Directors there will thus be two vacancies on the Board. Nominations should be sent to the Company Secretary, Voice of the Listener & Viewer Ltd (VLV) PO Box 401, Gravesend, Kent, DA12 9FY, not more than twenty-one days and no fewer than three represents the citizen and consumer days before the date of the AGM. Tea will be served between the conference and the AGM. interests in broadcasting and works for quality and diversity in British broadcasting. VLV is free from political, sectarian and Update on Executive Director commercial affiliations. VLV is concerned VLV has a New Chairman with the issues, structures, institutions As reported in the Spring Bulletin, Anne continued from front page and regulation that underpin the British Diack joined VLV on a short-term, part- Coming full circle Richard rejoined ITN to broadcasting system and in particular time contract at the beginning of May. present its World News and make special to maintain the principles of public Much of her time has been devoted to reports for the News at Ten. When that service in broadcasting. refreshing and updating the VLV website VLV does not handle complaints. programme was cancelled in 1999 Richard (www.vlv.org.uk) and the resulting changes turned to writing. He has now published two Design & Production have received many compliments. Anne also books about the history of British broadcasting. contributed valuably to VLV’s fund raising High Profile Ltd, Tel: 01474 533077 As well as being the new chairman of VLV strategy and worked on a number of funding Published by Voice of the Listener & Viewer Ltd, Richard also chairs a housing charity, the A private company limited by guarantee applications. As her contract reaches its end, (Registered in England number 4407712) the VLV Board wishes to thank her most St Pancras Almshouses, and has been elected Registered address: warmly for all she has done to support VLV to the Members’ Council of the Royal Free Aercon House, Alfred Road, Gravesend DA11 7QF over the summer and to wish her well in her Hospital in London.